Bavuma backs Lions batter to fill No 3 spot

Zubayr Hamza will get the first opportunity to nail down the No 3 spot for the Proteas after being selected to start the first Test against Bangladesh at the Wanderers on Sunday.

Hamza earned the nod over Tony de Zorzi, as South Africa try to settle on a batting unit that head coach Shukri Conrad would like to see playing together for the rest of the season.

Hamza played the last of his eight Tests on the “C-team” tour to New Zealand in 2024, but scores of 22, 36, 20, and 17 weren’t enough to earn Conrad’s confidence.

“He’s gone back to domestic cricket, and he’s scored runs in all the formats,” said Proteas captain Temba Bavuma. “There’s that opportunity at No 3, and for him, there’s no better place to get that opportunity than [at the ground] that he’s made his home in the past couple of years.”

Since moving from Western Province to the Gauteng Lions in 2023, Hamza’s played a crucial role in the Johannesburg-based side’s two outright wins in the past three First Class competitions. When they shared the trophy with the Titans in 2025, Hamza made a vital 100 in the final.

“From a playing point of view, he’s a lot more aggressive and looks to take the game on,” said Bavuma.

Hamza has averaged over 50 for the Lions in each of the past three seasons, and when given the opportunity with the SA A-side, he proved his mettle with centuries against the West Indies and New Zealand A teams.

The only other change to the team that beat Australia by 176 runs at Newlands to seal a stunning series victory was a return for 37-year-old seamer Dane Paterson in place of Gerald Coetzee, who isn’t part of the squad for this series.

“It was more a case of who we felt was the better bowler for these conditions,” said Bavuma.

Corbin Bosch was the other seam bowling option, who could also add even more depth to a long batting lineup, but Bavuma felt Paterson’s fuller length and ability to target the stumps made him a better option.

“He comes with a bit more skill with the ball. The way we’ve set up the team, I think from a batting resource point of view, we kind of have enough covered there. So that’s where Patto comes in, a different type of challenge with the ball, a guy who gets it up there, where Boshy, I guess, is more of that hard-length type of bowler.”

Bangladesh captain Najmal Hossain Shanto will name their starting team at the toss on Sunday, as he wanted to assess the Wanderers’ pitch some more. Bavuma felt it would, given the dry heat in Gauteng recently, provide assistance for Simon Harmer from day four onwards.

Rain has been forecast for the first few days, which could hold the surface together, but both teams are expecting plenty of pace and bounce for the first three days. Bangladesh are weighing up the option of including an extra batter in their starting team.

It’s a short turnaround for the tourists who only finished their series against the West Indies on Monday and have to come to terms with very different conditions from those they encounter at home. “We know it’s difficult, but we have some guys who have experience from playing here, and those guys must share those experiences with the younger guys.”

Their pace attack, led by Taskin Ahmed, is the best they have brought on any tour to South Africa. Hasan Mahmud, who was player of the match in their victory over Australia in Darwin, where he picked up nine wickets, provides much-needed zip, while Ebadot Hossain is similar to Wiaan Mulder and Paterson and will target the stumps.

“I believe that in these conditions, our bowlers will do something special for the team,” said Shanto.

Play starts at 10am on Sunday.

Proteas starting team: Aiden Markram, Marques Ackerman, Zubayr Hamza, Temba Bavuma (capt), Matthew Breetzke, Ryan Rickelton, Wiaan Mulder, Marco Jansen, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson.

Bangladesh (from): Najmal Hossain Shanto (capt), Jaker Ali, Litton Das, Mahfijul Islam, Mohammad Naim, Mushifiqur Rahim, Tanzid Hasan, Towhid Hridoy, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, Mominul Haque, Taijul Islam, Ebadot Hossain, Hasan Mahmud, Shoriful Islam, Taskin Ahmed.